The Most Pleasant Season to Visit Tibet

Every country has its own tourism season, like that here in Tibet we also have our tourism season which is from April to October. During this time in Tibet lots of tourists are coming here to enjoy their holidays and try to relax themselves from the busy world. Both domestic and foreign tourists are available here in this time and recently the number of tourists is rising because of this beautiful place, pleasant weather, unique tradition, rich culture, mysterious religion and different kind of things.

And about summer over here it’s quite hot and sometimes it goes to 28-30 degree celcius on maximum because of its altitude and you can feel much hotter than usual. But if you stay in shadow it’s much cooler than you think and also if you are travelling outside Lhasa it’s colder in northern and western part of Tibet. That’s why you have to bring both summer and winter clothes to spend great time in Tibet.

Also in summer most of hilly areas and passes are accessible, thus you can travel to anywhere that you like without any problem of climate condition. But in summer we have a short time of rainy season which is from June to August. During that time you may be able to see some snows on top of hills and passes, but landscape of Tibet is really beautiful during that time. But if you are going to visit Mt. Everest or other mountains during this rainy season then it’s not a good time to visit. Because during rainy season, it’s cloudy and foggy on mountain areas and you will not be able to see it well. And if you are still visiting it then you need to be prepared in your mind that you might be able to see it or might not be. But if you are visiting other places I can assure you that it’s really a good season. So this is how summer is in Tibet.

And next is best time to visit mountains, which is from April to May in spring and September to October or November in autumn. During this time you will be able to see all the mountains without doubt. If you like to visit mountains only this is the best time and you can make your holiday schedules according to it. For those who love hiking, it is also the best time to do it.

About spring and autumn, it’s cool in the city and cold during morning and evening. Outside the city it’s pretty cold there. And it’s dry and windy too.

If you are coming to Tibet in winter time it’s cold over here. If you are planning to travel to mountain areas of Tibet, it’s pretty cold and windy. But all the great mountains you can see very well. And lots of pilgrims from all over the Tibet are used to coming to Lhasa during that time. If you want to come to Tibet with fewer tourists then this is the great time and tour cost is also low during winter time. Anyway when you like to come to Tibet depends on you but all the seasons are great in Tibet.

Is It Possible to Travel to Tibet Without Tibet Permit

“Go to Tibet tour. See as much as you can.” Tibet is definitely the ideal dream place for backpackers who are fond of Tibetan Buddhism and natural landscape. Endowed with the unparalleled attractions, Tibet is named “the place people most want to visit” by travelers. Due to the special political background, Tibet is never fully open to foreign travelers. They must apply for the Tibet Permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau before entering and will still undergo some limitations regulated by local government. Some people may wonder if they can sneak into Tibet without this permit. This article will answer the question and tells what the limitations are.

The travel areas are limited. Foreign tourists can only visit the “open areas” in Tibet, namely Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhohka, Nagri and Nyingchi Prefectures and are prohibited to go to Chamdo Prefecture. Even in the “open areas”, places like border and military regions are restricted. For example, Jilong County and Yadong County in Shigatse Prefecture, border region in Lhohka Prefecture, the Brahmaputra River Grand Canyon and Medog County in Nyingchi Prefecture are off-limits to foreign travelers. 

The travel permission is required. Before entering Tibet, foreigners need to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit. They need to provide detailed information for the application: confirmed tour itinerary, tour date and hotel. If the tour itinerary includes any aforementioned “closed areas”, or if the itinerary is not intact, this application is very likely to be rejected. See how to get Tibet Travel Permit successfully at Tibet Permit Application Guidelines.

The way of travel is limited. Independent travel is not available for foreign tourists in Tibet. All the travel services, such as guide, ground transportation, driver and hotel, have to be arranged by a travel agency. Based on the tour confirmation from the local agency, the government will have a clear idea of the travel information: where to go, how long to stay, what to do in Tibet, etc. 

The choice of accommodation is limited. Only some hotels in Tibet are authorized to receive foreigners, especially 3-star hotels and above. If there is no hotel in remote areas, travelers can stay at local inns or monastery guesthouses. Outdoor camping is also doable. Wherever to stay, they have to list them in the application form, which will be verified by local government.

**Keep in mind**

Due to all the limitations, chances of traveling to Tibet without Tibet Travel Permit are extremely slim. Without showing valid permit, travelers won’t be allowed to board a flight or train to Tibet. Even if some sneak into Tibet miraculously (which is very unlikely), they won’t be able to find a place to stay without the permit. In addition, there are numerous checkpoints in Tibet, at which everyone, even Chinese travelers will be required to register, let alone foreigners.

However, if foreign tourists want to visit other Tibetan areas bordering on the Tibet Autonomous Region, like Ganzi and Aba in Sichuan Province, Diqing in Yunnan Province, Gannan and Guoluo in Qinghai Province, the aforementioned restrictions are not applicable. Even if there are some temporary regulations from time to time, those places are still far more unrestrained than Tibet.

Best Travel Time to Tibet

When is the best time to visit Tibet? We may get different views from different person because Tibet is such an attractive place for lot of people, presenting its breathtaking landscape and unique Tibetan culture of all year round. Travelers have different interests and purposes, so every single month can be the best time to visit Tibet.

Though summer is widely regarded as the best time to Tibet travel, some travelers prefer to travel to Tibet in autumn when the landscape of Tibet is most colorful. While some tourists love to go to Tibet in winter which is the best time to experience Tibetan pilgrims’ religious life.

Hence, what’s the best time to visit Tibet depends on each tourist’s interests and what are in their consideration, such as climate condition, Tibetan festivals, monthly highlights of Tibet and the cost of tour.

Most Ideal Weather to Visit Tibet in a Year - Summer & Autumn

If we only take weather into consideration, April to October or summer to autumn is the best time to visit Tibet, when the Tibet’s weather is not too harsh and most areas of Tibet are accessible. In addition, it is also the best time to visit well-known tourist sites in Tibet, such as Mount Everest and Lake Namtso.

The Lowest Cost Season to Visit Tibet - Winter

Cost on a tour is also a key concern for travelers and may be different in low and peak season. Logically, the prices of hotels, air tickets and tour services would be decreased in the low season and increased in the peak season.

If you are a shoestring traveler, you are highly recommended to travel to Tibet in winter which is the cheapest season to visit Tibet, with great discounts on kinds of fees. Besides, you will witness flocks of Tibetan pilgrims in Lhasa tibet, especially in front of Jokhang Temple.

Visit Tibet for Tibetan Festival Experiences

Travelers interested in traditional festivals and customs of Tibet should not miss interesting Tibetan festivals. For them, the best ones to visit Tibet are the famous Tibetan New Year, Saga Dawa Festival (religious month) and Shoton Festival (yogurt festival). 

Most Tibetan festivals are celebrated according to Tibetan calendar which is quite different from western ones. Therefore, travelers should first check the updated Tibetan lunar calendar’s festival when making a tour plan to Tibet.

Best Time to See Religious Rituals in Tibet

Tibet is the land of diversity in culture, landscape, custom and religion. And there are khampas (Tibetan people who are from north eastern part of Tibet and quite strong physically), Amdo (who are from south eastern part of Tibet and also quite strong) and U-tsang (who lives in the center and western part of Tibet). This is the division of people in Tibet. They all have their own customs and traditions.

Accordingly, There is diversity in religion. Religion is important to the Tibetans and has a strong influence over all aspects of their lives. There are Buddhism (which around 90 percent of Tibetan people are practicing), Bon religion (first religion which we have in Tibet), and Muslims. In addition, you might be surprised that we have Christians in southeastern part of Tibet, which was started in 19th century. But most of people who come to Tibet for religious ceremonies are for Buddhism.

Nowadays the major influence is Tibetan Buddhism, a distinctive form of Mahayana and Vajrayana, which was introduced into Tibet from the Sanskrit Buddhist tradition of northern India. Like other countries which have their religious ceremonies and rituals on a specific period, there are kinds of rituals in tibetan Buddhism.

April in Tibetan Calender is the Best Time to Visit Buddhism Religious Rituals

For those who are interested in Buddhism or those who are practicing Buddhism, we will tell you the best time for you to come to Tibet for a perfect experience.

The fourth month in Tibetan calendar (May or June in Solar Calendar) is well known as the "Buddhism month", also called the Saga Dawa Festival in Tibetan language. This month consists of when Lord Buddha was born, became a monk, died and enlightened and preached Buddhism to sentient beings. That’s why Tibetan Buddhists and also those who practice Buddhism consider that month as a holy religious month.

In Tibet lots of Tibetan people quit having meat during that holy month because we believe that whatever good things you do in that holy month, you will gain more virtues than usual, and whatever bad things you do, you will also gain more sins than usual. During that month hundreds of Tibetan people circumambulate around the Barkhor, Tsekhor (Circuit around Potala) and Lingkhor (the biggest round including all minor temples, about 14km). They also liberate fishes into Lhasa River (Kyichu) and other animals according to their own budget. Some of them are used to liberating the same number of lifes according to their age.

In temples and monasteries, you will be able to see monks reciting prayer in the Assembly hall and serving butter tea during intermission. Hundreds of Tibetan people line up in Drepung Monastery for making their donation to the monks chanting prayers in assembly hall, and you will see the same scene in other monasteries. Most of Tibetan people are busy with visiting various monasteries with flask full of butter in their hand for butter lamp. Most of them carry lots of small change for offering in monasteries and also for beggars. During that month you will see many beggars in Lhasa.

During this Buddhism month, lots of Tibetan people who are willing to make a pilgrimage will trek to Mt. Kailash. On the 15th day of that Tibetan month, you will be able to see the ceremony of erecting of prayer flag pole. You can also start your treking after the ceremony as lots of people will do it. You will have a precious memory if you can worship the Holy Mountain accompanied by the Tibetan local pilgrims. 

Besides, lots of Indians will also be there. They come to worship the God Shiva. If you are practicing Hindu, it is also a really great time to come to visit Kailash.

Tibet Permit Without Tour

After March 14, 2008 when a series of riots, protests, and demonstrations took place in Lhasa, local government implements more strict regulations on tourism industry. All foreign travelers are required to book tour services, especially hiring a tour guide and a car for their whole trip in Tibet, from the travel agency through which they apply for the permit. They must submit their trip schedule to the local government for approval when applying for the Tibet permit. Once the permit is issued, they are not allowed to change their itinerary at will.  

Therefore, travelers, backpackers in particular, are faced with bigger tour cost and limited flexibility. The cost may increase from dozens of dollars per day to hundreds. For example, they have to spend a lot on renting a car instead of taking a bus from Lhasa to Shigatse. In addition, they have to hire a tour guide for the whole trip, not selectively.  

As a responsible company, we won’t break the law and get you into trouble. Thus, we have to say “NO” if you ask for a Tibet permit only. But we have figured out three solutions for increasing flexibility and reducing your cost as much as possible. 

1. To increase flexibility 

Apply for more tourist destinations and a longer time than planned. Then, you can extend or shorten your trip in Tibet flexibly within the validity of your permit. The cost will not increase because of more sites or a longer period of validity.  

2. To reduce the cost 

grouptibettour.com is the first local travel agency to launch Tibet tour to help tourists to save more money. The cost can be reduced to 120-150 dollars per day, even for a long trip.  

3. To obtain more free time

You can arrange 1-2 free days for shopping, resting or doing other things you are interested in.  

Black sugar can help avoid high altitude illness

Tibet is the highest region in the world and high altitude illness caused by high altitude has always been the most concerned issue for those who want to Tibet travel. In this article, I’d like to tell you that black sugar can help avoid high altitude illness effectively.

Scientific researchers of former Soviet Union Tadzhikistan Mountain Institute, through research, has found that black sugar has pretty good effect on preventing high altitude illness. Those who go to a place with an altitude of more than 3600m can almost avoid high altitude illness by having 30g black sugar each day. While, those who don’t have black sugar or only have fine white sugar have a much higher risk of high altitude illness. The scientific researchers believe that there might be comparatively more active substances in black sugar which make it pretty effective on strengthening people’s ability to guard against high altitude illness.

So, try some black sugar if you are disturbed by high altitude illness in Tibet. You can take it with you from your home, or you can buy some in Lhasa tibet, capital city of Tibet.

Medicine for High Altitude Illness

“Oh, I really want to travel to Tibet with all my family. But, I do worry about the high altitude illness”. One of my friends said so. In fact, many people who want to tour Tibet have the same concern. High altitude illness, to some extent, ranks the first concern for tours to Tibet. Then, this article shall major discuss the medicine for high altitude illness.

Generally speaking, there are two categories of medicine used for high altitude illness, one is western medicine, and the other is Chinese traditional medicine. The western medicine can work fast to help eliminate some symptoms, such as headache and nausea, while Chinese traditional medicine can be used to adjust the organism of human body. The Chinese traditional medicine can also help relieve and eliminate feebleness, sense of suppression in the chest, shortness of breath, palpitation, insomnia, dreaminess and other symptoms.

Western medicine:

Vitamins and nutrient substances are pretty good to help strengthen human’s immune system. And they are necessities if you want to travel to Tibet. Besides, you should take some cold medicine, anti-inflammatory and painkillers for emergency. To some degree, they can also help to avoid high altitude illness by making your body stay in healthy.

For severe high altitude illness: Nifedipine tablets can be used for highland pulmonary edema and Dexamethasone can be used for highland cerebral edema.

Chinese traditional medicine:

Rhodiola rosea, lucid ganoderma, Codonopsis pilosula and American Ginseng all work well on preventing high altitude illness and you can choose to eat some of them. You can go to a drug store in Lhasa or somewhere else, and buy some Jingtian Honghua capsule, Rhodiola Compound Capsule and Gaoyuan’an, which are said to be very effective.

Myth about Tibetan evolution

Myth believe Tibetans were decent from a monkey and a rock-ogress, it was in a cave on the Gonpo Ri hill in Yarlong valley Tsedang(Southern Tibet), the sublime Avalokiteshvara, having conferred layperson's vows upon a magical monkey, dispatched him to meditate in the snowy realm of Tibet. There, beside a black rock, while he was devotedly contemplating loving-kindness, compassion, enlightenment-thought and the profound Dharma of emptiness, a rock-ogress, suffering on account of her karma, approached him, and before she departed, made manifold indications of her carnal desire for him. Later, disguised as a woman, the ogress said to the monkey, 'Let us be married!' But the monkey replied, 'As I am a disciple of the sublime Budda, it would contravene my vows to become your husband'. ' If you reject me, I will have to commit suicide because I am destined in my previous incarnation to be degraded into a devil. Then days later, I will become the wife of a devil and give birth to countless devil sons and grandsons. At that time, the plateau will be plunged into a world filled with devils and thousands of people will be killed”. Exclaimed by the rock-ogress as she threw herself at the monkey's feet.

So the monkey stuck in the dilemma he had to return to Mt. Pota to seek guidance from Mother Buddha. She said: “This is destiny and this is an auspicious sign. It is a deed of great kindness to marry her and reproduce offspring for the plateau. As a Buddha, you should not hesitate to conduct kind deeds. go back to marry the ogress.”

Then they got married and brought six baby monkeys into the world at first. They had different hobbies and different dispositions, in some history it said these six babies lead to the origin of six main tribes in Tibet, but some other said one reborn from each of the six classes of beings. The monkey-child reborn from among the denizens of the hell realms had a stern countenance and could withstand great hardships. The child from the realm of the hungry ghosts had loathsome features and an insatiable appetite. The one reborn from the animal realm was stupid and vulgar. The monkey-child from the human realm was endowed with increasing wisdom and sensitivity. The one from the realm of the semigods was aggressive and jealous, and the monkey-child from the realm of the gods was patient and virtuous.

and then later when the number of off springs multiplied by reproduction, they had eaten up all the natural fruits and troubled with food shortage, then again with the kind help from the mother Buddha they came to know cultivation of crops.

After some time, physical changes appeared by shortened the tails and gradually they could speak language. Finally they evolved into human, the ancestors of the Tibetan people.

This story of human evolution of Tibetan is very popular within the Tibetan people and it was written in some ancient scripture as well as on the murals of some old temples like Jokhang temple in Lhasa, this story also makes sense if you remember what old Charles Darwin said - that we've evolved from monkeys.

Tibet history

Humans inhabited on the Tibetan Plateau at least twenty one thousand years ago. This population was largely replaced around 3,000 BP by Neolithic immigrants from northern China. However there is a "partial genetic continuity between the Paleolithic inhabitants and the contemporary Tibetan populations". Some archaeological data suggests humans may have passed through Tibet at the time India was first inhabited, half a million years ago.

The earliest Tibetan historical texts identify the Zhang Zhung culture as a people who migrated from the Amdo region into what is now the region of Guge in western Tibet. Zhang Zhung is considered to be the original home of the Bön religion. By the 1st century BCE, a neighboring kingdom arose in the Yarlung Valley, and the Yarlung king, Drigum Tsenpo, attempted to remove the influence of the Zhang Zhung by expelling the Zhang's Bön priests from Yarlung. He was assassinated and Zhang Zhung continued its dominance of the region until it was annexed by Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century.

What to Pack for a Tibet Tour(1)

Tibet tour is the dream of many travelers. It is also a mystery to travelers who have never been there. To have a nice and safe trip in such a high altitude area, you should know what to bring. To make your trip more convenient and more comfortable, China Highlights offers the following tips.

Tibet Entry Permit

A Tibet permit is the most important thing. You should leave at least 30 days to arrange it before your trip.

Clothing: the Warmer the Better

Due to the high elevation, Tibet is quite cold even in summer. The higher the elevation is, the colder it is. And the temperature differs dramatically between daytime and night. So even if you travel to Tibet in summer, you'd better pack warm boots, a woolen sweater, thick pants, and awarm coat.

· If you want to see Mt. Everest, or other high elevation areas, a down jacketwith a warm hood is ideal.

Footwear

Boots are a good choice to protect your feet from little stones and sand, as well as for keeping warm. A pair ofslippers/sandals is useful in some simple hotels.

· If you want to climb mountains or go hiking, a pair of trekking shoesis needed.

Bags: the Smaller the Better

Travel as light as you can but be prepared. Suitcases are not recommended. Just bring a large backpack and a smaller one for day trips. Ideally they should be waterproofed.

· If you want to go camping, a large backpack with your tent, etc. in is recommended, and another bag to leave non-essentials in at your hotel / with your guide. Don't forget a warm sleeping bag (at least 4-season). You could also hire a tent, sleeping bags, etc. from us or in Lhasa to save you carrying them. Arrange that before you go.

· Remember to select a high-altitude fuel stove for camping. Some fuels and lighters won't ignite in Tibet's low oxygen environment.

Food

There are no Western restaurants in Tibet, and only a few hotels offer Western food. Bring some food you like in case you don't like Tibetan food.

· If you are going to visit remote and high areas, bring some food that can replenish energy quickly, like chocolate, nuts, and compressed biscuits.

Sunburn and Dry Climate Protection

Tibet enjoys a dry climate and strong sunshine all year round. To protect yourself from sunburn and drying out, bring a pair of sunglasses, sunhat,lip balm, moisturizer, and sun block.

· Bring snow glasses to prevent snow blindness if you're going where there is lots of snow for extended periods.

Toiletries

In some stops on your Tibet travel tips there are toilets. However, they often don't provide toilet paper. So, if you have to go to the toilet, bring some in your pocket/bag. 
Hotels in some areas may not provide toiletries. Bring shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and a (quick-drying) towel with you.

Wet tissues or disinfectants are helpful since it is inconvenient to wash your hands and face in many areas.